RONNIE SMITH VIGILANTE ATTACKER FROM BALLYCLARE WALKS FREE AFTER PETROL BOMBING INCIDENT

In a notable case that drew significant attention, a man involved in a vigilante group responsible for a petrol bombing attack on the residence of a convicted paedophile has been released from court proceedings after his sentence was suspended. The incident took place in Ballyclare, where the individual, identified as Ronnie Smith, was targeted by a mob seeking retribution for his past crimes.

On the night of October 13, 2008, a group of up to ten individuals launched an assault on Smith’s home, located in the Clare Heights area of Ballyclare. The attack involved smashing windows of Smith’s bungalow before hurling petrol bombs and paint bombs through the broken windows, resulting in extensive damage to the property. During the assault, Smith sustained a burn to his hand, a direct consequence of the petrol bomb attack. The incident was driven by anger and a desire for vigilante justice, with the mob acting outside the bounds of the legal system.

Among those involved was 23-year-old Adam Bogle, a resident of Greenview Drive in Ballyclare, who was part of the group. Also present was 24-year-old Ryan Bowen from Lower Rashee Road, Ballyclare. Both men were arrested as they fled the scene into the nearby Grange housing estate. During their trial, which was their fourth, evidence was presented linking them to the attack through paint and petrol residues found at the scene. Despite this, the jury acquitted them of the more serious charges of arson and endangering the lives of Smith and his wife. However, Bogle had previously pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of being reckless as to whether lives would be endangered.

In a court session held at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Gordon Kerr QC sentenced Bogle to two and a half years in prison but suspended the sentence for three years. The judge explained that Bogle would have faced immediate imprisonment if not for his guilty plea two years prior, the case having been pending for over four years, and his prior five months in custody. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offence, noting that it involved vigilantism and a desire to take justice into their own hands.

Two weeks following the attack, Ronnie Smith, then aged 72, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after admitting to multiple charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving a young girl. Smith had also agreed to a three-year probation period to address his sexual misconduct. The offences occurred between October 1997 and October 1999, when the victim, a nine-year-old girl, was employed at Smith’s newsagents in Ballyclare, making up small bags and delivering newspapers. Smith’s criminal activities and subsequent sentencing drew widespread condemnation.

Tragically, Smith was not present in court to witness the release of one of his attackers, as he had suffered a fatal heart attack just before Christmas, ending his life and his legal proceedings. The case remains a stark reminder of the complex issues surrounding vigilante justice and the consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands.